In 1733 Ebenezer Erskine, William Wilson, Alexander Moncrieff, and James Fisher seceded from the Church of Scotland and formed the Associate Presbytery. Later they were joined by Ralph Erskine and Thomas Mair. The collective writings of thesee According to them, the Church was Christ's mediatory kingdom and divine right presbyterianism was essential in Scotland because it was taught in Scripture, summarized in the standards, sworn in national covenants, and established by civil and e Both of these pillars of Scottish covenant theology acknowledged the same Christological distinction. According to the covenant of works, mankind was alienated from the Triune Creator God; whereas in the covenant of grace the elect were redeem Instead of examining their theological foundation, the Seceders explained these inconsistencies in their doctrine by various theological distinctions (e.g. Christ's internal and external headship over the Church visible and invisible).